Joe Public sometimes gets a bit confused about medical terminology. The terms 'acute' (with a short onset) and 'chronic' (long-lasting) are both interpreted by him as 'nasty'. I am just saying this so everyone can be clear about the new National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) recommendations about the use of painkillers to treat Chronic Primary Pain (https://www.theguardian.com/society/2020/aug/03/painkillers-such-as-aspirin-do-more-harm-than-good-for-chronic-pain). This is a long-lasting condition in which pain persists without there being any identifiable underpinning cause. They sensibly suggest that treatments with aspirin, Ibuprofen, opioids or even Paracetamol for this condition are inappropriate. These drugs don't really offer the appropriate pain relief and can have dangerous side effects (like addiction). The painkillers can be used (in moderation) for acute conditions, which have a known cause (like tooth-ache).
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